Football: CU Buffs' QB spot still up for grabs

First depth chart has four tied at the top

There were few surprises Tuesday when the Colorado football program released the first depth chart of coach Mike MacIntyre's tenure.

The four quarterbacks still involved in the competition to be the starter in the fall are those everyone expected, senior Jordan Webb, juniors Nick Hirschman and Connor Wood and redshirt freshman Shane Dillon. And all four players are listed as being tied atop the depth chart.

Webb remains sidelined with a sore thumb on his throwing hand that prevents him from properly gripping and throwing the ball and it's unknown if he will be able to return to action the rest of the spring. So with Webb unable to practice, it didn't appear like much had changed from before spring break at Tuesday's practice.

Sophomore Stevie Joe Dorman was still receiving plenty of reps, taking those that would have been designated for Webb and even fellow sophomore John Schrock continued to get work under center. No one has been complete cut out of the equation at the position.

"We went through and just watched everything, talked about it and felt like those were the four that right now have kind of separated themselves a little bit and we should give some reps and see how they go," MacIntyre said. "We're still getting the other guys in there from time to time, but they're getting the bulk of the team reps."

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Regardless of how the quarterbacks perform the rest of spring, MacIntyre and offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren plan to continue to competition into fall camp when freshman Sefo Liufau will join the mix and try to become the first true freshman in CU history to earn the starting job in a season opener. CU also is recruiting a junior college quarterback it could add to the roster this summer.

Wood said he feels good about where he stands so far in the competition, but he understands that he and his fellow quarterbacks have a long way to go.

"I'm taking it one day at a time though," he said. "These coaches are really into being more process focused and understanding that you're not going to be ready to play in the first game right now. We're still learning."

Wood said his primary goal from the beginning of spring hasn't changed. He wants to be consistent.

"My goal is I want to show these guys that I can be dependable," he said. "I think that's kind of the name of the game, especially at the quarterback position."

Lindgren said he has seen things he likes from every quarterback on the roster, but the four who were elevated a notch on the depth chart Tuesday have been more steady. He was asked to highlight the strengths of Dillon, Hirschman and Wood.

On Wood: "He has shown pretty good poise and has been very calm under pressure. He did a good job in the 2-minute drill at the end of the third week."

On Hirschman: "I think Nick Hirschman is a super competitor. I really like it. I think the team really responds to him. I think he's a good leader. I think he's got a good demeanor in the huddle. He's got some game experience here, which I think is real valuable. He's done a nice job with pressure in his face keeping his eyes down field."

On Dillon: "Shane brings a degree of athleticism. I still think he is very raw as a passer. He's got some things he needs to clean up, but I think he brings a dimension of athleticism that some of those other guys may not have."

Lindgren said the characteristics he is looking for in a starting quarterback are a player who takes care f the football, makes good decisions and does both consistently. He said every quarterback on the roster has struggled with consistency to this point.

MacIntyre said it took the coaching "a good two days" to put together the first depth chart of his tenure. He said they watched film of every player on the roster in making decisions.

"We really emphasized to the young men that it's all in their attitude now and it is in pencil," MacIntyre said. "If they're where they want to be on the depth chart, then they better keep pushing. If they're not where they want to be, they better keep pushing. And I told them, 'Some of you might even be surprised where you are on the depth chart.'"

MacIntyre said he generally counts on a bit of sluggishness from players in the first practice following spring break and that is how the Buffs started Tuesday. He said it ended up being a good three-hour session.

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